PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between donny marlow (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Billy Watson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

marlow
vs
Watson

178 cm
20
156 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

172 cm
19
163 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, donny marlow!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Billy Watson!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, James Atkins and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
marlow tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Watson swivels and escapes.
marlow misses with a head kick.

marlow fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Watson sprawls well initially but marlow persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Watson is trying is best to control the position here.
marlow wants to stand up but Watson is controlling the position.
marlow sitting and controlling from the half guard.

marlow is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Watson preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watson wants to get back to full guard.
Watson preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Watson is trying to control but can't.
Watson won't allow marlow to pass to mount.
marlow prevents Watson from standing back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
marlow misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
marlow fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for donny marlow. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Watson stuffs the takedown attempt from marlow. marlow gets slowly back to his feet.
Horrible takedown by marlow or perhaps it was just good defense by Watson which made him look bad.
marlow is breathing heavily.
marlow fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
A head kick by Watson misses

and marlow counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
marlow trying to control the position from guard on top but Watson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Watson has marlow pulled in close to control his posture.
marlow trying to control but Watson is working from the bottom.
marlow is fighting to break Watson's control of his arms but Watson is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Watson's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Watson trying to strike off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Watson lands a couple of shots from the bottom.
marlow tries to free his leg and advance position but Watson is retaining full guard.
Watson is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
marlow wants to control from the top but Watson keeps moving.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Watson throws a right and a left that both miss.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

donny marlow dominated that round.
That's time! marlow's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

marlow fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
marlow moves in looking to clinch but Watson pushes him off.
marlow will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

marlow has Watson up against the cage in a clinch.
marlow misses with a hook from the clinch.
marlow tries to score a body lock takedown but Watson shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for donny marlow. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
marlow wants to stall.
marlow tries to pull guard but Watson won't allow it.
marlow using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watson avoiding damage as marlow throws knees to the body.
marlow wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
marlow misses with a body punch.

marlow breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
marlow throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Watson's waist but Watson gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing marlow off to one side.
Watson throws a sloppy head kick and marlow moves out of range easily.
Watson misses with a few strikes there.
marlow shoots for a double leg takedown but Watson sprawls well. He's pushed marlow's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Watson works the jab nicely.

It looks like donny marlow has been cut.
Some wild striking there from Watson.
donny marlow seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A head kick misses from marlow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Watson fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches marlow on the side of the head.
marlow fails with the takedown.
marlow keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Watson throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

marlow is rocked!
Watson tries to clinch but marlow is having none of it.
A left and a right from Watson both land. Nice combination.
Oh marlow is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
marlow throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Watson's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watson wants to clinch up but marlow keeps it at a distance.
marlow seems to have got his legs back now.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Watson.
marlow is trying to control Watson's posture but Watson avoids it.

Watson has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Watson looks to land a combination. marlow sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watson gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from marlow.
Watson wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

marlow breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

marlow takes the fight into the clinch.
marlow missing with knees to the body.
marlow tries to stall but Watson uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
marlow swings wildly with an uppercut but Watson uses good head movement to avoid it.
marlow wants to get back to striking at distance but Watson won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Billy Watson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on donny marlow's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Watson swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
marlow has his takedown stuffed
and Watson cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
marlow tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

marlow closes the distance and clinches.

marlow manages to pull guard.
Watson wants to control from the top but marlow keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Watson chips away with some ground and pound.
marlow keeping moving, preventing Watson from controlling successfully.
marlow controls Watson momentarily but Watson frees himself.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watson would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Watson trying to control the position from guard on top but marlow is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
marlow working a defensive guard here.
Watson trying to control but marlow is working from the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Watson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

marlow forces Watson back against the cage and clinches.
A short left from marlow.

marlow pulls Watson into guard.
Watson not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Watson wants to pass the guard but marlow is keeping the position.
marlow looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
marlow is trying to keep Watson in close.
marlow controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

marlow looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
marlow will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Watson slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
marlow is pulling down on Watson's head to control his posture.
Watson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
marlow working a defensive guard here.
Watson controlling from the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
marlow wants to sweep here but Watson controlling him for the moment.
Watson content to stall in guard here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

marlow working for submissions but it's allowed Watson to get to half guard.
Watson with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to donny marlow.
I think marlow has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 29:29
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!